Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs The NFL has dropped the proverbial hammer on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, as the defensive player was hit with a three-game suspension following a late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence suffered a concussion and was knocked out of the game, which is likely going to sideline him for the rest of the 2024 season. Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence Exits Game After Brutal Hit to HeadFollowing the hit, players on the Texans and Jaguars got into a fight, and Al-Shaair was ejected from the game. Since the event unfolded on Sunday, Al-Shaair took to social media to offer an apology to Lawrence.The classy and kind words were seemingly not considered, and the Texans linebacker has received a stiff punishment for a hit he claims was not intentional. The hit has been the talk of the NFL, and players and pundits have been offering their takes on the situation. Texans GM Rips the NFL For Azeez Al-Shaair Suspension, Calls Treatment ‘Bull—-‘One of the biggest takes was from Texans GM Nick Caserio, who ripped into the NFL for Al-Shaair getting a three-game suspension while players like Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James was given a one-game suspension for a similar hit.Now, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has chimed in on the situation, calling the three-game suspension, “ridiculous.”
Rodgers goes into the situation, initially stating that Lawrence sliding is part of the league changing everything to protect quarterbacks.”They’ve already done a lot to support the quarterback and keep the quarterback safe. The whole game has changed in the last 20 years. It’s not the same physicality. There’s protected players on both sides of the field. There is no more cutting, right? There has been interactions with the toss plays. You protect the quarterback from basically the knee to the shoulder, making it real difficult for defensive players to know how to even tackle the guy.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 01: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets puts on his helmet during the first quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on December…
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 01: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets puts on his helmet during the first quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium on December 01, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers calls defensive players being suspended, ridiculous.
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Rodgers also comments about plays over the middle in terms of defenders being able to light up offensive players who catch it there. Also, how the physicality has changed completely.”I think we’ve lost a lot of physicality. … I think it’s really hard to play defense in those situations.”Rodgers then goes into how college players are being kicked out of the games due to making solid tackles, which are now deemed to be unsafe.”These are bang bang plays … getting kicked out of the game for that is ridiculous. Some of these hits on defense that are called penalties or not called penalties are ridiculous as well. The interpretation of the rules is very hard for the stripes…”Rodgers is alluding to what Caserio also mentioned in his presser, in that there is presumably a lot of inconsistencies with the way that punishments are handled. Al-Shaair being sidelined for three weeks is likely going to be talked about for quite some time, and if he wins an appeal might also lead to some much-needed conversations about suspensions.Either way, it sounds like Rodgers understands and sympathizes with how defensive players have to constantly deal with adversity in terms of how they can tackle safely.For more on the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
